Unit 5 – Group Discussion Guide

Unit 5 – Group Discussion Guide

Hope Community Church


DISCIPLE FOUNDATIONS

The Church

Icebreaker

  • Share a time you were a part of a team.  What is your favorite memory from that experience?

  • What is one item in your house that is missing a part?  How well does it work compared to when it had all the pieces?


Technology and social media has made it simple to do most things we need to from the comfort of our homes.   But God wants us to be intentional about connecting with other believers.

  • What impact have you seen social media and other technology have on your relationships?  How have they changed from years past or from your parent’s generation?

  • What reasons can you give for physically going to church faithfully? 

  • What do we miss when we opt to do “church” at home?


The church isn’t the building.  It’s believers, assembled to live out the “one another” commands and take the hope of the gospel to the world.

Read John 13:35, 1 John 3:17-18.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."  (1 John 3:17-18)

  • According to these verses, why is it so critical for believers to be in relationship and demonstrate love for each other?

  • Why is it a contradiction to say we  love God without also giving generously?

There are over thirty different “one another” commands in the New Testament.  Here are a few:

  • love one another (John 13:35)
  • forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)

  • accept one another (Romans 15:7)

  • submit to one another (Ephesians 5:21)

  • pray for one another (James 5:16)

  • encourage one another (1 Thess. 5:11)

  • bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)

  • be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

  • teach one another (Colossians 3:16)

  • serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

  • Who do you have at church that you connect intentionally with and do the “one anothers?"

  • How does hopping from church to church as “consumers,” going here for this program, and there for that program, conflict with “serving selflessly?”

Read Ephesians 3:10

“God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

  • How are we uniquely suited to fulfill this purpose together?

  • What excites you most about the purpose we have been given as a church?  How will you view “coming to church” differently than you did before this study?

Take time in group to share any next steps you chose from your individual study or choose one below. Partner up to review how it’s going with previously chosen ones. (Do not feel the need to do a new action step each week.)


Next Steps:  Choose one of the three areas below and then either a “walk,” “jog,” or “run” step.  The walk steps are beginning steps, the jog steps intermediate, and the run steps more advanced.  Note:  if you are still working on “walk,” “jog,” or “run” steps from previous units, don’t feel pressured to do any of these!  Or choose a “walk” step below for now. Pace yourselves!

1. Connecting intentionally to others in my church….

WALK

Attend a small group weekly.

JOG

Invite others to your small group.

RUN

Lead a small group weekly.

2. Serve Selflessly….

WALK

Volunteer at your church on a one-time or short term opportunity.

JOG

Commit to serve in some kind of on-going ministry.

RUN

Lead a ministry team or small group.

3. Giving generously....

WALK

Begin percentage priority giving. Pick a percentage to start with and let it grow over time as your faith grows.

JOG

Give the first 10% of your income to your church on a regular basis.

RUN

Give from your abundance above the first 10%.


Parent Action Steps - Choose one or more of  the Action Steps below based on the ages of your children.

 

PRESCHOOL

Discuss the following “one another” commands from the Bible with your preschooler.

·   Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Say: “Who would you like to pray for today/tonight? Why do they need prayer?”

·   Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Say: “Do you know someone who needs help or could use some cheering up? What could we do to make them smile?”

·   Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Say: “Is there someone you need to practice being kind to? How could you treat them with kindness?”

ELEMENTARY

Discuss the following “one another” commands from the Bible with your child.

·   Pray for one another (James 5:16)

Say: “Who would you like to pray for today/tonight? Why do they need prayer?”

·   Serve one another (Galatians 5:13)

Say: “Do you know someone who is having a tough time or needs help? What could we do to make them smile?”

·   Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Say: “Is there someone you need to practice being kind to? Is there someone you think I need to practice being kind to? How could we treat them with kindness?”

·   Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32)

Say: “Is there someone that you need to forgive? Is there someone you think I need to forgive? Let’s pray about that right now.”

STUDENTS

Challenge your student in one or all of the following:

·   CONNECT: Maturity plays out in relationships-Attend a small group or student ministry weekly

·   SERVE: Being a member of the Body of Christ means you are intentionally connected and doing your part-Commit to serve in an on-going ministry

·   GIVE: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:21 Tithe from their allowance, babysitting money, jobs, etc.

 


5 Unit 5 – Group Discussion Guide PRINT Ver 5 Unit 5 – Group Discussion Guide PRINT Ver